Method and apparatus for making piles



NOV- 21,-1933. w w EDMAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PILES 2sheets-Sheet .1

Filed Nov. 16, 1931 Elma who! WERNER W. EON/7N.

Nov. 21, 1933. w. w. EDMAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FILES FiledNov. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I A'VEN TOR.

WE mm W. fan/5w.

[IIIII ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PILES WernerEdman, Lakewood, Ohio Application November 16, 1931 Serial No. 575,392

16 Claims.

The present invention provides a novel method and apparatus for formingconcrete piles in situ at the location of their use, whereby there .willbe formed, ready-placed, a concrete struc- 5 vture of such density andcompactness as to resist disintegrating influences until the concretehas'completely hardened. The operation is such that these results areobtained in a manner permitting the immediate removal of the'forms em-19 ployed, there being left a self-supporting concrete structure of thecharacteristics above referred to.

This invention therefore provides a method whereby structures ofthiskind are formed in a quicker mannerv than heretofore, and it alsoembraces a novel form of apparatus for carrying out this process, theapparatus being of a very simple construction, easily fabricated andeasily manipulated. The advantages of the present invention will beapparent from consideration of the detailed description which will behereinafter given.

.In general, the invention comprises the provision of forms for moldingthe concrete in position at its place ofuse. These forms convenientlycomprise an outer, shell, or mold, with a cooperating compression memberwhich enters into theouter shell, and compresses the concrete mixture.placed therein by subjecting the mixture to high compressionresultingfromthe impact .of driving blows from a pile driving machine ofgenerally the usual type.

In practicing the invention, these forms or molds are assembled onewithin the other, the inner mold being hollow and-having a slightlyupwardly converging formation, the base having the greatest diameter,and fitting flush against the inside walls of the outer form, which iscylindrical,- and simply holds, the concrete in place while the pressureis applied thereto. Both ,forms are of suitable material of requiredstrength to withstand the pressure, such as steel, and are cast withflanges adjacent the upper end of each,--so that they may be grappledwith a suitable tool for removal of the forms when desired. 1

After assembling these forms, :the aforesaid flanges of the inner moldengage the top of the outer form, and the two formsare driven togetherinto the ground at the location where the pile is to be employed. Theflush engagement of the large end of the inner mold with the innersurface of the outer form prevents the entry of dirt therein; the saidend of the inner mold being provided with a removable cap, or cover,

which prevents access of dirt to the interior of the inner mold.

When the two forms have been driven into position, the inner form isgrappled and pulled entirely out from the outer form, suction beingprevented by providing the cap with means for equalizing the airpressure on the inside and outside of this inner mold as it iswithdrawn; therefore, any clogging of the outer form by earth and thelike being drawn therein by this removal of the inner mold, isprevented. Such means will be more particularly described hereinafter.

After the inner mold has been withdrawn, concrete is poured into theouter form to the desired depth. The inner member is again inserted, itsclosure cap having been removed, and driven into the outer form byimpacts from the driving machine as far as the inner mold can enter.This operation compresses the concrete into the inner mold, under suchpressure as will make the resulting pile self-sustaining anderosion-resistant until it sets, and permits the immediate withdrawal ofthe forms, leaving the pile formed in situ in condition where it canharden without damage and without external rigid support.

The invention will be now readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic andfragmentary illustration of the manner in which the forms aremanipulated, showing the withdrawal of the inner mold after positioning,the outer form being shown in place driven into the ground.

Figure '2, is a longitudinal sectional view through the forms inassembled relation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing theconcrete compressed to form the finished pile, the inner mold beingpartially removed.

- Figure 4 is a top view of the completed pile with the forms removed.

Figure 5 is an elevation showing the shape of the completed pile.

Figure 6 is a sectional View on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, lookingdownwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 3, lookingupwardly in the directionof the-arrows.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through a desirable form of acap or plug used for covering the lower end of the inner form member.

Figure 9 is a bottom view of the cap'of Figure 8. I

- Figure 10 is a sectional View taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 2,looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Referring first to the construction of the forms, it will be seen thatthe outer member, or casing, 1 is formed of an open-ended cylindricalcasting provided with the flanges or shoulders 2, which in turn have theopenings 3 formed therein, which openings constitute a ready means forgrappling the form 1 for withdrawal upon completion of the pile.

The inner member 4 may be termed a pressure mold, and this member 4constitutes also a driving member forthe outer casing 1, the member 4being provided with the outstanding flanges or shoulders. 5 which areadapted to engage the upper end of the cylindrical outer member 1. Theseshoulders 5 are also provided with openlngs 6 by means of which themember 4 may be lifted out from the member 1 when desired. The upper endof the member 4 is closed by a wooden block or plug '7 which is cappedby the member 8 threadedly secured to the upper end of the inner member4. p

The lower end of the inner mold 4 is closed by the cap or plug 9 whichis secured in place by the removable securing members 10 and 11 whichpass completely through the walls of the mold 4 and the plug in rightangled directions through corresponding openings 10a and 11a in the capand mold, respectively, thus being rigidly mounted in position in theend of the inner mold 4. The moldmember 4 has an upwardly taperingconfiguration, as will be seen in Figure 2, the lower end being thelarger, and closely engaging the inner walls of the casing 1.

The forms are manipulated as shown in Figure 1. For driving intoposition, the mold 4, closed by the cap 9, is placed within the form 1and the two forms are driven into position by the action of a weight-orhammer l2 impacting upon the cap 8, the force being transmitted to themember 1 through the engagement'of the shoulders or wings 5 against thetop of the said member 1. When the forms have been driven 1 form 1, andsuitably reinforced as indicated at 125 into position, cables are passedover a pair of pulleys 13, of the pile driving machine, andgrappling-hooks or similar instrumentalities are connected with theopening 6 in the flanges 5,

conveniently through cables extending over the pulleys 13 for operationby a suitable source of power. The inner form 4 is thus withdrawn andthe concrete is then poured ing 1.

However, since the member 1 is open-ended, and since the withdrawal ofthe member 4 therefrom will serve as a piston to produce suction in themember 1 as the part 4 is withdrawn, which might result. in sucking up'of the material,

in which the member 1 is embedded, into the interior of the member 1 toclog the same, it is desirable to form the cap 9 in a manner such asillustrated in Figures 8 and 9,.wherein the bottom 9a of the cap isprovided with openings 14a extending through the bottom thereof, whichare plugged by the members 14, which comparatively loosely fitinto theseopenings; and by making the openings and plugs of a taperingconfiguration, and by providing a packing of earth. or the like betweenthe plugs and their openings, the

likelihood of the plugs sticking in the openings be compressed up intothe mold 4 and thereby quickly, the mold 4 is provided with an adjustofthe mold 4, against the concrete so as to compress the same into thepile. By virtue of the into the outer casupwardly tapering configurationof the mold 4,

the plugs 14 from their seats, and any vacuum which would result fromthe withdrawal of the plug of the form 4 will be prevented, thusobviating any possibility of the form 1 being obstructed by foreignmaterial drawn up into it.

Upon withdrawal of the mold 4 from the casing 1, concrete is poured intothe casing 1 to the required depth, and it will be apparent that whenthe inner mold. 4 is then hammered back into position, a very highpressure will be exerted upon the body of the concrete which willpressed into a dense, non-porous condition. This pressure may be sogreat as to cause trouble, and therefore control means are provided.

These control means include a movable collar 15 operating upon the upperpart of the mold 4, and provided with apertures 16 which are adapted toregister with corresponding apertures 17 through the walls of the mold4. This collar is so positioned that it may be readily turned about themold 4 by means of a suitably inserted tool, so as to close the openings1'7 in an air tight manner, so that there will be no leakage of airduring the driving operations upon the concrete. When it is desired torelease this pressure for withdrawal of the form 4 upon completion ofthe pile, the collar 15 is turned so as to engage the openings 16 and17, whereby the compressed air can flow out into the atmosphere; but inthe event that the pressure builds up too much or too able release valve18, which is so constructed as to release upon the-internal pressurebuilding up to'a predetermined point. This release valve may be madeadjustable so as to operate at any predetermined internal pressure. Afurther opening 19 may be provided, which permits a ready means forconnecting a pressure meter for communication with the interior of themold 4 during the driving operations, so that there can be an indicationor measurement of the pressure existing at any time within the interiorof the mold 4. This pressure is to be released before the mold is liftedfrom the concrete.

When-the concrete has been placed within the strumentalities,illustrated by the hammer 12,

against'the block 12a contacting with the cap 8 as the concrete iscompressed therein, the resulting pile will be narrower at the top thanat the bottom; and to better withstand the pressure, the casing l isprovided at its bottom with a reinforcing collar 21, riveted thereto at21a.

It will thus be'seen that the body of concrete is subjected to anenormous pressure, and, since the mold 4 cannot completely enter thecasing 1, the end of the body of concrete will be formed with anenlarged portion, or base, indicated at 22; this representing'the spacebetween the bottom of the member 4 and the bottom of the mass ofconcrete'placed in the form 1. Because of the-compression, as soon asthe pile has been completed, the inner mold 4 may be withdrawn, and thenthe outer form 1 may be substantially immediately removed, leaving thepile in position in the form of the dense, hard, self-sustaining 150column indicated at 23 injrigaress-and 5. has the configuration shown inFigure 4, being anouter periphery 24 and the smaller diameter '25, thetapering configuration of the pile'being clearly shown in Figure 5.[When the *pile'is completed, and thefmold 4, is withdrawn, grapplingl'loolrsare attached to the flanges 2 by a'cable passing over thepulleys 26, and the member 4 is liftedoif from around the pile 23, andbecauseof fthe denseQ non-porous character of this pile, it effectivelyresists all action of moisture or other weathering agents present in itslocation during the setting or hardeningof the con'crete. i v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tos'ecure Batent of the United'states iry l. A methodbfforming concretepiles, which comprises sinking a retaining form into position, fillingthe retaining form to adesired height with concrete, introducing intothe retaining form a moldhaving the form of ,the finished pile, forcingthe mold into the concrete until the concrete is forced up into the moldin a self-sustaining condition, and then removing the mold and retainingform, leaving the pile in completed condition ready for setting.

2. Apparatus for forming concrete piles, comprising the combination withpile driving instrumentalities, of cooperating forms for receiving andmolding the concrete, the said forms comprising a concrete receivingform and a mold adapted to enter the receiving form and to be driven bythe driving instrumentalities into the concrete placed within the formfor compression thereof, reinforcing means for the top of the mold, andgrappling shoulders onthe form and mold adapted to be grappled forlifting the mold and form from the compressed concrete.

3. An apparatus for forming concrete piles, comprising, in combination,a mold for the concrete comprising a hollow member adapted to be driveninto a body of concrete for lateral compression of the concrete into themold under im-' pact of blows imparted by a driving machine, andpressure controlling means in the mold for controlling internal pressurethereof during driving operations. I

4. 'An apparatus for forming concrete piles com prising, in combination,a mold for the concrete comprising a hollow member adapted to be driveninto a suitable body of concrete for compression thereof into the moldunder impact of blows imparted by a driving machine, and controllingmeans in the mold comprising a rotatable collar on the mold providedwith openings therethrough, adapted to be engaged with, and disengagedfrom, corresponding openings through the mold.

5. An apparatus for forming concrete piles, comprising a mold for theconcrete, the mold being formed of a hollow pressure member adapted tobe driven into a suitable body of concrete for compression thereof intothe mold under impact of blows imparted by a driving machine, andcontrolling means in the mold comprising a pressure operable memberactuated by a pressure within the mold of a predetermined value,together with a rotatable collar on the mold provided with openingstherethrough, adapted to be engaged with, and disengaged from,corresponding openings through the mold. V

6. An apparatus for forming concrete piles, comprising a mold for theconcrete formed of a hollow pressure member adapted to be driven into asuitable body of concrete for compression thereof into themold underimpact ofblows imparted by driving machine, and a cap for the said moldclosing its lower end, the said cap being provided withmeans forreleasing pressure within the mold upon reduction-of pressure exteriorlythereof.

7. An apparatus for forming concrete piles comprising, in combination, aconcrete retaining form and a pressure mold adapted to be'enclosed bythe retaining form and having at least one end in close engagement withthe interior of the retaining form, the retaining form and mold beingadapted to be driven together into the location of the pile to beformed, and a removable cap secured over the aforesaid end of the mold,and provided with at least one aperture fitted with a removable plug,whereby upon reduction of pressure in the retaining member uponwithdrawal of the mold'th'e'refrom "properly to introduction ofconcrete'into the retaining form, the aforesaid plug willb'e withdrawnby the resultingdilfer- 'ence in pressure between the interior andexterior "of the mold, the pressure within the mold 'being released"thereby and drawing up of foreign material into the retaining formprevented.

8. An apparatus for forming concrete piles,

comprising a mold for the concrete, the mold being formed of a hollowpressure member adapted to be driven into a suitable body of concretefor compression of the concrete into the mold under impact of drivingblows imparted thereto, the said mold being provided with pressurereleasing instrumentalities for releasing the pressure built up duringdriving operation, and being further provided with means for readilyattaching a pressure meter to'the mold for the determination of interiorpressure thereof at any time.

9. An apparatus for forming concrete piles, comprising, in combination,a concrete retaining form and a pressure mold adapted to closely fitinto the retaining form, the said pressure mold having upwardlyconverging sides, the mold and form being each provided withinstrumentalities enabling simultaneous driving of the form and moldinto the position to be occupied by the pile, and to enable engagementof withdrawing means for withdrawing the mold and form subsequently tothe pile making operations.

10. Apparatus. for forming piles from plastic material such as concreteand the like, which comprises a hollow retaining form for receiving thematerial and adapted to be driven into the gfound where the pile is tobe located, and a hollow mold adapted to be inserted into the retainingform and having the shape and dimensions of the finished pile, the moldbeing provided with means whereby it may be rammed into the material inthe retaining form to compress the said material into the mold to formthe pile in a self-sustaining condition.

11. A method of forming concrete piles in situ which comprises sinkinginto the location which the pile is to occupy, an outer concreteretaining shell, filling the shell to the desired extent with concrete,introducing onto the concrete a conical pile-forming mold, driving themold around the concrete, thereby subjecting the concrete in the mold toprogressive lateral pressure to extrude the major part of the moisturecontent thereof,

leaving a substantially hard disintegration-re- .--,i-

sistant pile, removing the mold and shell, and allowing the pile to set.

12. A method of forming concrete piles in situ, which comprisescompressing in a lateral direction a mass of concrete into the desiredform of the pile in the position which thepile is to occupy, thecompressing being performed by superposing a tapering mold relatively tothe mass of concrete and driving the mold around the concrete to therebycompress the said concretelaterally inwardly. v V g 13. A method offorming concrete piles in situ, which comprises compressing, in alateral direction, a mass of concrete into the desired form of the pilein the position which the pile is to ac- .cupy, the compression beingperformed bysuperposlng a tapering mold relatively to the concrete.mass, and progressively driving the mold around portion of the moisturetherefrom and create a dense and stable condition prior to setting ofthe concrete,

, 15. The method of forming concrete piles in situ, which comprises thesteps of placing a mass of concrete in the desired position forformation of the pile, and shapingthe mass to pile form by progressivelateral compression of the mass toward the longitudinal axis of the sameto extrude the major portion of the moisture therefrom and create adense and stable condition prior to setting of the concrete. a 1

16. The method of forming concrete piles in situ; which comprises thesteps of placing a mass of concrete in the desiredposition for formationof the .pile,: and shaping the mass to pile form by combined lateralcompression of the mass toward the longitudinal axis of the same, andlongitudinalcompression, whereby to extrude the major portion of themoisture therefrom and creof theconcrete.

t V WERNER W. EDMAN.

ate a dense and stable condition prior to setting

